Maple Leafs Top Prospect Departs for Finland, Signs New Deal Overseas

With all the talk about who the Maple Leafs are going to bring in for the next season's Stanley Cup journey, the team has to deal with potential players leaving either due to a big contract, or the fact they haven't gotten a chance with the big club yet.

So for one of Toronto's longer tenured prospects, it seems the latter is what's irked him the most, and he's decided to spurn the team for better opportunities.

Former 59th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft Roni Hirvonen has decided to leave the organization in favor of heading back to his native Finland to play for Karpat.

The Espoo, Finland native spent four seasons in the Finnish SM-Liiga prior to coming over to North America, playing with Assat Pori as well as HIFK Helsinki.

There were some hopes that Hirvonen would turn into a reliable bottom-six center with some offensive potential, but he never got a chance with the Maple Leafs.

He spent two season with the Marlies but only played sparingly and wasn't a regular everyday player. In 96 games, Hirvonen had 34 points (17G, 17A) 34 PIM and a minus-10 rating.

A solid playmaker who wouldn't be afraid to get in the dirtier areas of the game, he may have had a chance with the new Craig Berube system, but for whatever reason felt a move back home was necessary.

He did deal with an eye injury in his first season with the team, as well as several other personal issues which may have played a big factor in his decision to move back home.

Another issue that may have held him back previously as well as this season is his size, being fairly small at 5'11, 180 pounds; not your typical Brad Treliving addition, and someone who didn't impress heavily in the AHL.

There's always a chance Hirvonen comes back to North America to give it a go once he rebuilds his stock over with Karpat.

But for now, it seems the Maple Leafs are down one of their longer-tenured prospects; let's just hope he doesn't make Toronto regret losing him.